Medical observation apparatus and medical observation system

Abstract

A medical observation apparatus includes: an image sensor configured to image an observation target and generate a medical captured image by sequential reading; and a controller configured to control lighting of light sources configured to irradiate light to the observation target. The controller is configured to perform a first control including a control of lighting a light source configured to irradiate white light, and a second control including a control of lighting a light source configured to irradiate excitation light, and the first control is performed in a period that spans over a boundary of successive frames.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical observation apparatus comprising:
 an image sensor configured to image an observation target and generate a medical captured image by sequential reading; and   a controller configured to control lighting of light sources configured to irradiate light to the observation target, wherein   the controller is configured to perform a first control including a control of lighting a light source configured to irradiate white light, and a second control including a control of lighting a light source configured to irradiate excitation light, and   the first control is performed in a period that spans over a boundary of successive frames.   
     
     
         2 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform:
 the first control in a shorter period than one frame period; and   the second control in a period longer than the period in which the first control is performed.   
     
     
         3 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 repeat the first control; and   perform the second control in a period in which at least the first control is not performed.   
     
     
         4 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the second control in a period in which the first control is performed, and in a period in which the first control is not performed. 
     
     
         5 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the second control in a period in which the first control is not performed, and is configured not to perform the second control in a period in which the first control is performed. 
     
     
         6 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the first control in a predetermined timing that has been set. 
     
     
         7 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined timing is a timing in which lighting of the light source configured to irradiate the white light ends at the same time as an end of reading a final line of a frame that is being read by the image sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined timing is a timing in which the light source configured to irradiate the white light starts to be ON at the same time as a start of reading a front line of a frame to be read next. 
     
     
         9 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined timing is a timing in which lighting of the light source configured to irradiate the white light spans over an end of reading a final line of a frame that is being read in the imaging device and a start of reading a front line of a frame to be read next. 
     
     
         10 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the first control every two frame period. 
     
     
         11 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform a third control in which the light source configured to irradiate the white light and the light source configured to irradiate the excitation light are not turned on. 
     
     
         12 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to processe the medical captured image. 
     
     
         13 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to vary a gain of a signal indicating the medical captured image between when at least the first control is performed and when only the second control is performed. 
     
     
         14 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to change processing between when at least the first control is performed and when only the second control is performed. 
     
     
         15 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to synthesize a first medical captured image that is imaged when at least the white light is irradiated to the observation target, and a second medical captured image that is imaged when only the excitation light is irradiated to the observation target. 
     
     
         16 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a filter configured to cut off light of a wavelength corresponding to the excitation light from incident light to the image sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a light source unit including a light source configured to irradiate the white light and a light source configured to irradiate the excitation light. 
     
     
         18 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the light source unit further includes a filter configured to pass the irradiated white light, and cut off light of a wavelength corresponding to fluorescence originated from the excitation light. 
     
     
         19 . The medical observation apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an arm including a plurality of links connected with one another by a joint portion, wherein
 the image sensor is supported by the arm.   A medical observation system comprising:   a medical observation apparatus configured to image an observation target, and process a generated medical captured image; and   a display configured to display the processed medical captured image on a display screen, wherein   the medical observation apparatus includes
 an image sensor configured to image the observation target and generate the medical captured image by sequential reading; 
 a controller configured to control lighting of light sources configured to irradiate light to the observation target; and 
 a processor configured to process the medical captured image, wherein 
   the controller is configured to perform a first control including a control of lighting a light source configured to irradiate white light, and a second control including a control of lighting a light source configured to irradiate excitation light, and   the first control is performed in a period that spans over a boundary of successive frames.